East Detroit High School pool remains closed after accident

The pool at East Detroit High School in Eastpointe will remain closed to students and athletes Monday as authorities wrap up their investigation into an incident last week that left a student hospitalized in the intensive care unit.

Officials have not provided details on Friday’s accident involving a 15-year-old male student, but indicated more information may be given at a school board meeting scheduled for Monday.

“(Monday) is going to be a tough day for some of the kids,” Superintendent Joanne Lelekatch said Sunday.

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Lelekatch said the student, whose name has not been released, remains hospitalized at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit, but she would not disclose the nature of the teen’s injuries. She would not confirm TV news reports indicating the youngster struck his head on a diving board.

Eastpointe police and fire personnel were called to the school near 9 Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue about 1 p.m. Friday. They found the teen unresponsive in the pool area and began to perform CPR before rushing him to the hospital.

Students told reporters the teen had been found floating in the water.

The superintendent said the pool area will remain off limits until the police investigation is complete. She said a number of students witnessed the rescue efforts and were shaken by the incident.

Principal Mary Finnigan and her team of assistants have been in touch with the teen’s mother over the weekend, Lelekatch said.

“We’ve been focusing on him all weekend,” she said. “We continue to pray for him and hope for the best.”

Lelekatch would not comment on whether the student was part of a swim class or just happened to be in the pool area. In a letter addressed to school district parents, she said some staff members were present when the incident took place.

She praised the “outstanding” efforts of police officers and detectives for their compassion in conducting interviews of students and staff members, who were understandably upset at what they had witnessed.

An Eastpointe police command officer said there was no update on Sunday.

Lelekatch said another letter would be forthcoming once more details were known. She said the item may be briefly addressed at the school board’s meeting tonight.

“This probably should be addressed but I have to talk with our attorney because I have to be careful about what we say publicly at this time since there is an ongoing investigation,” she said.

The school board meets at 7 p.m. at Eastpointe City Hall, 23200 Gratiot Avenue.